"My
group thought this was a grandfather holding his grandson. They are in a
dark room or a dark house. You can tell they are inside because there
is a window or a door." GSBP

KM: Now I have a question for you. Do you know what country this guy might be from?

GSBP: Africa.

KM: Okay. Good. And what can you tell me about his clothing? Is it something you would see in Carrollton?

GSBP: No, not really.

KM: does he have a hat?

GSBP: Yeah, he might have been a baker, a bread baker.

KM: Good. Excellent. One more thing about this (student hands over panel, I hold it up)

Ms Jan, Art Teacher (MJ): About eighteen minutes are left.

KM:
Eighteen minutes? Okay, I appreciate that.

KM: Uh, faces are really hard to
do. All our FACES ARE UNIQUE, because it's the space between our
eyes, where the ears are in relation to stuff, take A LOT OF PRACTICE!!
So I was working from a photo, and, uh, there are a lot of wrinkles on
this guy's face. There are many details to consider. Even when you do
fabric like on a blanket or, as I look around the room (the types of
textures on our clothing), even the seam on my jeans, there are ALL THESEDETAILSAs an artist you must decide: "Am I going to do EVERY
detail? Or just SOME details?"

My wife invited me to speak to her fifth and sixth grade art classes November 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th. Four days, eight classes, about fourteen
students to a class.Portions continue from one class period on Tuesday, Nov.17th. Sharing painted panels with art students at Carrollton Elementary School, in Carrollton, MO (Students are unnamed)Double click on images.

KM:
Good. Hold it a minute. SO THIS ISA PUZZLE. I am purposely throwing
you a curved ball. Does anyone else have an idea? If the title is called the "Holy Child" and it looks like a squirrel in a tree, what do you
think, what do you think? Thank you for your presentation! I really
appreciate it. I am OPENING THIS UP to conversation.RAISE YOUR HAND if
you have an idea. This guy here. Just your thoughts. There are many ways
to look at a painting.

"I was thinking it was like an ultra-sound of a kid." BB

KM: What is an ultra-sound?

"Like his mom was pregnant, like an ultra-sound." BB

KM: So WHAT does THAT have to do with THE TITLE? But he has a CLUEthere. What do you think?

"I think what he is saying, is that that could have been a baby like Jesus." XG

KM: Yeah, he was a baby. So here was a baby. So, it was a thought. Yes, I want to hear another thought.

"It looks like a baby in the womb." XV

KM:
Now, NOW let's take it to ANOTHERLEVEL.IF it is a baby in the womb,
that is what this might look like, WHAT would ALL THAT YELLOW around
there? Now see, some art you see it "what-it-is." Some of it is more
SYMBOLIC. Artists try to take it to another level. Sort of like Play
Station goes to another level. Yeah, what do you think? Why would there
be yellow all around there? Think about it for a minute. What is yellow?
Is it a dark color?

"It's a bright color." DS

KM: Raise your hand if you have any thoughts. Yes?

"Could it be the SKIN?" DL

KM: What?

"The skin?" DL

"A happy color?" DE

KM:
A happy color. So, with Christmas right around the corner. Some people
go with the baby Jesus and all that, maybe the yellow is saying
something HAPPY about that occasion. That is what I did one Christmas.
But it could be a squirrel in the tree.

"This is like a garden outside and people inside and the doors you push open. And there is gray around it. There is a person on the left with a kid." GBG

KM: Okay, I have a question for you? It this somewhere in this building? Could it be?
GBG: Um, I don't know.
X: Oh! It's right out there.
Ms. Jan (MJ): Not this building.
KM:
Over by the high school, across from what used to be the library. Now I
have another question for you. Why do you think the people don't have
eyes or shirts?
GBG: Cause they are looking out the window.
KM: Yep.
XB: Because of the shadows.
KM: Can you say that again?
XB: It's a shadowing-thing.
KM:
Yes. When people are in shadow they call it A SILHOUETTE, the people
are darker. The other reason, Miss Jan told me why they didn't have
glasses, was I just didn't want to do them. (chuckles) All the details.
Let me hold this for a minute.

GBG hands over the piece.
KM: Let's look at this design for a minute. All kinds of
the walls here are drab. The bright colors are here in the middle, and
that makes your eyes go right to the middle. Sometimes when you are
looking at something and you think: okay, what am I really interested
in? And see, I was interested in the reflections on the floor here.
Thank you, sir. Have a seat.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Portions continue from one class period on Tuesday, Nov.17th. Sharing painted panels with art students at Carrollton Elementary School, in Carrollton, MO (Student are unnamed) Double click on images.

Karl Marxhausen (KM): Good. Excellent. Let's go on another round (pulling out a piece for each table)

There is lots
of chatter, faces crowded around, hands touching the
varnished surface, expressive fingers, sharing impressions for two minutes.

KM: Time's up. Someone different needs to come up. Who is it? (Three students line up in front of the class)

A student with Short hair and Black sweater (SB) holds up 8 x 7 inches panel.

"Okay.
What I think is, this is a river, and this is a little meadow over
here. And these are trees that come to the middle, whatever you come to
see up here, and these are trees and stuff. And this is probably like a
hill, because all you can see are the tree tops and some sky. And this
is probably another hill. And this is probably a little bit of water." SB

"It
looks like a garden at night. Like if you are lying on the ground and
you look and see the shadows in the background at night, like up close
in the garden. All different darker colors like you see at night. And
the brighter green kind of looks like something has been shining on it,
the moon maybe." BHB

KM: Is there anything on the back?
BHB: No.
KM: Is there anything in the corner on the back?
BHB: Yes. There is a sticker that reads: "Raymar. Raymar.com 888 809 3314"
KM:
Yea, yea, so this is a canvas that is glued to a board. And there are
places on-line where you can order these things for X number amount of dollars.
A lot of the stuff I painted on was board, like go to the lumberyard or
like that. Okay, next.

A student with Black Hair Pulled back (BHP) holds her group's piece up.

"Uh,
my group thought this was like a little town with tall trees. And it is
day and there are shadows off of the little houses and it's out in the
country." BHP

Getting students up close and figure out for themselves what the artist was doing on a work. On November 16, 17, 18 and 19, my wife invited me to speak to her fifth and sixth grade art classes. Four days, eight classes, about fourteen
students to a class. The following are portions from one class period on Tuesday, Nov.17th. (Students are unnamed) Double click on images.

Art teacher Mrs.
Marxhausen, Ms. Jan (MJ): He went to school to be an artist. He IS AN ARTIST. He doesn't make a living at it, but he has sold some artwork.
And he just wants to talk about his experience and give you a feel for
some of the ins and outs of what he does. So, be the nice, gentle, kind,
caring, respectful students that you are. I think it will be
interesting. Most everybody that has heard it has liked it. And he's
gotten better than he was yesterday.

Karl Marxhausen (KM): Okay.
My name is Mr. Marxhausen. But you can call me "Mister Jan." So I
brought some paintings today. I want to share some with you. Some of it
I'll be talking about. Some of it YOU will be talking about. So we have
an exercise here. You can know a lot about an artist by looking at a piece.The artist always uses colors he or she wants to use.

KM: Does anybody see a bright splash of red in the middle of this painting?
Students: No.

KM: No, I wasn't interested in that. Is there a bright splash of white in the middle of the painting?
Students: No.
KM:
That's right. I wasn't interested in that color either. What I am going
to do is have you help me. We're going to start with this gentleman
here and I am going to ask different ones to come up. You will stand
over here (beside the painting on the easel) and I will tell you what to
do. So, I want everyone to watch what he is doing. (First student walks up.)
KM: So stand here. Now point to one color that you see in this painting.
(Student points to the shirt, see next)

KM:
Okay. He is pointing to the blue here. Now I want you to take your time
andpoint to all the places you see that same kind of blue on this
painting. (Student pointed to the following areas on painting. Some were low and some were way up high.)

KM:
Yes. You may have a seat. Good job. We are going to follow his example. I
need the person with the Red Sleeves and the Gray (RSG). Come up here,
please. Stand over here. (RSG goes up to stand beside the painting.)
KM: Find another color no one has picked yet and point to it.
RSG points to a color.
KM: What would you call that?
RSG: Dark orange

KM: Good. Now point to all the places you whereyouthink yousee this
color in the painting. Take your time. (RSG points to four places)

KM: It's like looking for a puzzle
piece.Yes.

KM: Good.

KM: Very good. Have a seat. Okay (pointing to student) the Gal with the Stripes and the Long Hair (GSLH). You guys are doing great. Go ahead and find a color that has not been found yet. Okay, she is pointing to a color. What would you say that color is?
GSLH: Dark brown
KM: Okay, dark brown. Now go and point to every place you see just that color in the painting. (GSLH points to five places)

GSLH: And the beard!!

KM: Excellent. (pointing to student) Okay, the Gal in White (GW). Come up here, please. How long do we have till?

MJ: They leave at ten after.

KM: Oh, ten after. Good. (to GW) Find another color which has not yet been picked. Okay she is pointing to a greenish-looking color there. Please point to all the places you thinkyou seethat color.(GW points to seven places)

KM: Keep on going. We all see colors differently. You are doing great.

KM: What we see in this is that when I am painting, I don't just use this color for the shirt (pointing to blue shirt) and then no where else. In the painting I try to include the colors in other places. (to GW) Very good. (picking another student) Yes, the Gal in Pink and Gray (GPG) at this table, please. There are three or four colors we haven't talked about yet.

GPG: (student points to painting) This pinkish color.
KM: Okay the pinkish color. Point to all the places you see it.
GPG points to eight places

KM: Okay, thank you. (picking student) The Gal in the Blue (GB). So, she is picking the yellow on the top of this hat (next).

GB: Right there (pointing to frame of easel, next)

KM: Good job. Thank you. (student goes to sit down) We have talked about color. Let's try this. IF YOU THINK you know what this painting IS ABOUT raise your hand? Okay, yes?

Student X: Is it a man painting in a park in summer?
KM: That should be the title of the piece.
Student W: What is the title?
KM:
It is called "Yard Trees." So, this is a picture of me. Raise your hand
if you think you knowHOW - I MIGHT- BE ABLE - to paint a picture OF MY SELF?
Student T: You could look at a PHOTO.
KM: That's right. What might be another way?
Student D: a MIRROR.
KM:
Yes, that's it. I set up a full-length mirror and looked at it.
Something I just noticed about it. I am right-handed. I chose to put the
brush in my left hand so that in the reflection (in the reverse) the
painting hand would not block the rest of the body.

KM:
Back then, this was the best I could do for leaves. I could get the
trunk of the tree which was basically lines, but leaves, forget it. You
know, trees are so messy, you can't use a straight line, they are all
over the place. And things I feel uncomfortable about painting I DON'T
PAINT!! SO - IF I WANT TO LEARN - HOW TO PAINT SOMETHING, raise your hand if
you think you have an idea HOW I COULD BE BETTER - AT PAINTING SOMETHING - I DON'T WANT TO PAINT?Raise your hand if you think you know the answer.
Yes ma'am.
Student C: Go to her(pointing to her art teacher Ms.Jan).

KM: That's an idea. Anybody else?
Ms. Jan (MJ): I taught him to do trees (chuckle)

Student B: Just go at it the best you can.
KM: Everybody listento what this guy is saying. Say it again.
Student B: Go at it the best you can.
KM: Best that you can. Best that you can.

Portions continue from one class period on Tuesday, Nov.17th. Sharing painted panels with art students at Carrollton Elementary School, in Carrollton, MO (Students are unnamed)Double click on images.

Karl Marxhausen (KM): Here is something I want to show you. This is a painting that I did this a long time ago. (holds up 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches painted panel)

KM: It doesn't even say what year it is. (walking passed tables for students to see it up close) So, I'd gone on vacation somewhere out on the West Coast. And it had a lot of ocean. There were some people sitting on the rocks. When I got home to Missouri I thought: "Oh oh that was so cool. I want to paint that." (pointing to piece) So, I was able to get the rocks and the distant land and the sky and the water. And, how many people are on there?
Students: Two
KM: Two. So, are they the same size?
Students. No no.
KM: No. But do I have eyeballs and glasses and can you tell what kind of shirt they are wearing?
Students: No.
KM: No. That's the best I could do. And I can't believe I STILL have it. I mean, but I have come such a long way.
Student: I think it looks pretty good.
KM: Thanks. (nodding) You know, I'll just say this up front. Artists are, you probably know this, but artists HAVE FEELINGS. Be careful what you say when you are walking around somebody is working on something. Invariably, people will say: "That doesn't look, or who is that? or, you know." You know, say something nice. WORDS HURT ARTISTS as well as everybody else.
Ms. Jan, art teacher (MJ): Everybody likes to hear something nice.

KM: Recently the timing of coming and talking with you, I've been going through old pieces of my work, and signing it. A few years ago I was leading a class and I had some things I did "trial and err on." And I was showing it to the people I was teaching. And they were saying to me: "Mr. Marxhausen, why don't you have your signature on them?" And I thought: "well, that's a no-brainer. These are just me messing around with paint." So now I and going through and signing stuff. I want to show you a few things.

(I
put a painted panel on each table. Students look and hold and point and discuss it among themselves with the time I allow. Chatter ensues. When the time is up, they pick and choose who will go up and talk about the piece in front of the whole class. I sit down and listen with the class)

KM: (after two minutes) Time is up.
Who is going to come up from your table? Pick somebody. (Three students come up and line up to take turns) Okay hold your
piece up so everyone can see it. Everybody - eyes up here, quiet, please. Okay,
go ahead.

A student with Blonde Hair Black shirt (BHB) holds up 4 x 6 inch panel for the class to see, as he points to areas and describes what he sees.

"I'm
thinking the grass down here. I think that is the flowers. I think
there is grass. I think the sun is setting. It's dark over here. There
is a hill of some sort, a rock pile, and over here there is more grass." BHB

KM: What do you see on the back side?
BHB: 7 - 26 - 05
KM: So what year is that?
BHB: 2005.
KM: Thank you. Very good. Excellent job. We can clap. (BHB goes back to seat. The class claps their hands)

+++++++++

A student with Long hair and Striped shirt (LS) holds up a 4 x 6 inch panel, and describes the scene.

"Okay,
we think it is like the woods and this down here is the grass. And here
is like a path, and here is like the trees that are still alive. The
brown is where some of the trees have died or are kind of old. On the
back is 7-26-05." LS

KM: So what year was it done?
LS: 2005.
KM: Very good. You guys are so observant. You
know these little ones, I really like them. When I found them, it's
like, I can't believe I still have these. I have photographs of many of
my paintings, but some of these I have not documented."
KM
MJ: You probably should.

++++++

A student with Black hair and a Pink sweater (BP) holds up this 12 x 12 inch panel and shares with the class:

"We
thought that around here was the woods, and then there is a path here,
going into a bigger woods. A meadow around here. Kind of sunset up
there. And kind of a little woods right there." BP

KM: Is there anything on the back?
BP: Karl Marxhausen. Carrollton.
KM: Good. Excellent. Let's go on another round.

Banner Photo

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grid shows the order that constrains sand amoebas

"THAT PAINTING BRINGS YOU JOY SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, AND I WOULD FOCUS ON THAT INSTEAD." DR.TANYA W. LAND, nurse practicianer specialist in Carrollton, MO

Cutting Block (Winter Scene)

"HELLO KARL. AS A FRIEND OF CHARLES AND ANITRA STEELE,I HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO YOU AND YOUR WORKAND AM ALWAYS INTERESTED IN READING YOUR WRITINGS AND ABOUT YOUR ACTIVITIES.I ESPECIALLY ADMIRE YOUR PERSISTENCE IN "BEING A TRUE ARTIST" IN SMALL CARROLLTON.I'M SURE IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU PERSONALLY NEED TO DO AND IN WAYS THAT YOU WILL PERHAPS NEVER KNOW ARE AFFECTING MANY IN A POSITIVE WAY.CONTINUE TO HEAL!!"Patt Behler, Jefferson City, MO

sand, packaging, and acrylic paint is seen in this detail of "A Thinking Reed's Response"

"ABOUT YOUR DAD: THE BLESSING THAT CAME INTO HIS LIFE WAS CONCORDIA. THIS SETTING HELPED HIM BECOME THE PERSON HE "BECAME." AND BY SETTING I MEAN THE COLLEGE AND THE CITY OF SEWARD. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. IT WAS THE PERFECT SPOT FOR HIM." JACK DUENSING, SEWARD, NE.

mixed materials used in "Wired To Hear Your Voice" by Karl Marxhausen, 2002

Followers

owner of "Sundown" from Seward, NE

Welcome. Art is alive in the middle of North America. Ten miles north of the Missouri River, down the road from Moss Creek, I work with a variety of materials. This journal tells you what I am up to with PAINT, COLLAGE, RELIEF PRINTS, MARKERS, and MUSIC. Your comments are welcomed from around the globe. Posts go up every two weeks. Come back often.

plein air acrylic

"SOUNDS LIKE GOD HAS BLESSED YOU WITH YOUR ART. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO MANY!!"sandy quick, kansas city, mo

"HOW COOL IS THAT KARL!! CONGRATULATIONS AND KEEP AT IT - YOU ARE DOING WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WORK."richard hamilton, kansas city, mo

grappling with the neurons in consciousness

"I ADMIRE THE WAY YOU MAKE THE SCENE YOUR OWN. YOU USE ACRYLICS IN A NICE, FLEXIBLE WAY WHICH IS SO DIFFICULT."sheila vaughan, painter, united kingdom

"MAY THE LORD CONTINUE TO INSPIRE YOU!!"adebanji alade,artist, united kingdom

"KARL PAINTS WITH STRONG STROKES - SOMETIMES ALMOST SLASHES. HE SAYS IT ALL, FEARLESSLY, IN A FEW WELL CHOSEN WORDS FROM HIS PALETTE. HIS SUBJECTS ARE SIMPLE EVERYDAY THINGS THAT HOLD THE GREAT PLEASURES." phil chadwick, painter, ontario